Do You Realize The Importance Of Godly Commitments For Kingdom Health?  Good Morning Friends,  I have said it before and will probably say it again, that the church is like a family. In today's lectionary scripture, we see the importance of dealing honestly with youth as an important part of community. Jesus opens the door … Continue reading Do You Realize The Importance Of Godly Commitments For Kingdom Health? →

Who Will You Serve?  Good Morning Friends,  Today's lectionary selections are resolutions of sorts. You see, the choices and commitments we make in life are more important than we realize. We learn from our personal history and that of our family, friends, country and faith. There is a rational to it all especially in marriage. … Continue reading Who Will You Serve? →

What Is Forgiveness?  Good Morning Friends,  There are transitions going on in today's lectionary text from both the Old and New Testaments. But it may be a mistake to even connect them. One is about unlimited forgiveness of Jesus and the other about a miraculous entry of Joshua into the Promised Land with the Ark … Continue reading What Is Forgiveness? →

Do You Know How To Outlive Your Life?  Good Morning Friends,  Perhaps you have seen some of the great Cathedrals of Europe built by generations upon generations of stone masons. They began and worked on projects that they knew they would never see to completion. Every stone they laid in its place was for the … Continue reading Do You Know How To Outlive Your Life? →

So, What Does It Mean That Mary Is Blessed?  Good Morning Friends,  My Catholic friends are celebrating the Assumption of Mary today and as far as I can tell it is about the idea of Mary being in God and with God but also, in part, associated with the struggle of the church in the … Continue reading So, What Does It Mean That Mary Is Blessed? →

What Does The Lord Require?  Good Morning Friends,  This morning we come to a section of Matthew which encompasses a mere six verses, but involves two different stories, one on each of these two topics—one on death and one on taxes. The sage of American History, Ben Franklin, commenting on his hope of the new … Continue reading What Does The Lord Require? →

Are You Ready To Think Outside the Boat?  Good Morning Friends,  Today's scripture chronicles a real incident but reads like a parable. It is about our doubt, the forerunner of fear, and taking risks and facing the storms of life that are part of God's will and help us to grow. It is about having … Continue reading Are You Ready To Think Outside the Boat? →

Do You Have Enough Faith To Move Mountains?  Good Morning Friends,  Today's scripture sets the standard high and then we see how the disciples fall short and initially I was not sure whether this was comforting or disturbing. But then I found it encouraging. You see the laws must be written on our hearts and … Continue reading Do You Have Enough Faith To Move Mountains? →

Really, What More Evidence Do We Need?  Good Morning Friends,  I have concluded that miracles are important if for no other reason than they help us put in priority order God before all other things. The miracle of creation…the miracle of God having an active hand in the nation of Israel… our own wellbeing….and of … Continue reading Really, What More Evidence Do We Need? →

Are You A Joyous Giver?  Good Morning Friends,  The Bible has a lot to say about money. Of the 29 parables Christ told, 16 deal with a person and their money. There is much to learn about this topic including that God desires us to give and moreover to give generously and with joy and … Continue reading Are You A Joyous Giver? →